Men's 3rd XI Vs Tamworth 1

Telford's 3's travelled to Tamworth to face their first team, who sat third from the bottom of the table before the match. With no one in the team having played Tamworth before, it was unknown how to game would pan out. The 12 man squad that met them include Sammy Brazier back from the 2's and debutant Will Thompson, both of who only just found the pitch before pushback. 

Telford started the game and quickly started to restrict Tamworth to their own half. It didn't take Telford long to score, with Captain Chris Nightingale pressing up the pitch from left-back. Picking up the ball on the edge of the attacking 23, the skipper saw the run of Brazier, who's skills took him inside the D past multiple defenders, before smashing the ball into the far left corner. 

However Telford quickly left Tamworth back into the game, with a quick conger attack beating Telford before the Tamworth striker beat Dom Pritchard in the away team's goal, denying Pritchard of successive clean sheets. This pushed Telford to turn up the tempo, with Nightingale once again with the assist. This time it was to Josh Carr-Yetzes, with the defence parting like the red sea for Moses. The striker-turned-midfielder continued his goal scoring run, after a hat-trick last week, hitting the ball past a stationary keeper to make it 2-1 Telford. 

The score remained 2-1, although Telford created plenty of chances through the likes of Thompson and Sahib Dhanjal, who continued his weekly fails with another swing and miss, this time on the baseline in the 'D' instead of making a simple pass back to teammate Ben Stevens. 

Half time came and with the score at 2-1 Tamworth remained in the game and Telford knew they couldn't afford any defensive mistakes. The second half started, and Telford kept the press on Tamworth, but couldn't find a way through. The best chance of the half came to Ben Stevens, after Thompson put the ball across the 'D' and Nightingale missed the ball, a small touch from the keeper put the ball behind Stevens at the back post, who ended up falling over his own stick. 

Moments after the drama started, with Stevens pressuring the Tamworth defender, trying to slow him down to avoid a quick break down the wing. The Tamworth defender flung his stick towards Stevens' face, with Nightingale getting involved along with a player on the side from Tamworth. The result was a green card for Nightingale and the Tamworth defender. Minutes after this, Telford picked up their second green card, with Carr-Yetzes getting a green for saying 'Unlucky Sammy' after Brazier had a decision go against him. This left Telford playing briefly with 9, but Tamworth still had no way through. 

The drama continued, Telford receiving a third green card, this one controversial after Brazier committed a stick tackle inside the attacking 'D' infront of the umpire, who decided to give Brazier his first ever green card. With both teams back to 11 players, it remained close, with Telford having the best chances but unable to convert any. Ben Edwards then also picked up a green card, for a brief protest against the umpires decision. This was followed by two Tamworth players given their marching orders, one green and one yellow. 

The game finished 2-1 to Telford, leaving them only 4 points behind Stone in second in their league. Man of the Match went to Will Thompson for a brilliant 3rd team debut, carving out many chances and unlucky not to score. DOTD was Ben E, who forgot his change  of clothes for after his shower. 

Goals: Sammy Brazier, Josh Carr-Yetzes. 
Assists: Chris Nightingale x2

Report credit - Ben Stevens